OnLive Launches for iPads, Tablets

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New apps let you peer into the world of cloud-based gaming.

By Levi Buchanan

Today marks the launch of OnLive for tablets like the iPad and Samsung Galaxy. However, like all good things, there is a catch. Right now, OnLive for tablets is limited to a viewing service. This app, the OnLive Viewer, allows you to watch other people playing games via the cloud service, review tagged Brag Clips of cool gameplay moments (like an epic fall in Just Cause 2), and chat with other OnLive gamers.

Now, I understand that watching somebody else play a game might seem disappointing, but according to John Spinale, OnLive VP of Games and Media, being a digital voyeur is actually the second-most popular thing to do on OnLive, right after playing the games themselves: "Watching live games and interacting with the people playing them takes social gaming to an entirely new level. It's unlike any other experience. And people love it."

Check out this video of the OnLive Viewer up and running to see its interface and how browsing live gaming and Brag Clips works:

The OnLive Viewer is not the endgame. The ultimate goal of OnLive is to extend their gaming platform to tablets like the iPad so that one day, you will be able to play streaming PC and console games. I actually saw this work at E3 2010. And today, at the D: Dive into Mobile conference, OnLive CEO Steve Pearlman is showing off how OnLive will not only play games on tablets, but also run productivity software such as Autodesk Maya.

So many people playing games...

OnLive will also stream a Windows experience to tablets, which opens up an entire world of potential for personalized cloud computing. (However, I do wonder how Apple executives feel about streaming Windows 7 to the iPad.)

As for when playing games through OnLive will become available for tablets, OnLive representatives say we have to wait for the games themselves to become "touch- or motion-aware." Considering the potential clunkiness of a virtual keyboard or controller on the tablet screen, this makes sense. However, licensing issues may also be part of the behind-the-scenes equation, as this is an entirely new set of screens OnLive is potentially capturing.

Darksiders through the OnLive Viewer

The OnLive Viewer is available for tablets like the iPad and Sumsung Galaxy today. If you want to peer into the cloud gaming realm, head on over to your respective application shop and download the free app.